2007 CADILLAC STS tires

(E) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature resistance. For more
information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 444.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use when
a regular road tire has lost air and gone at. If
your vehicle has a compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire on page 475andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 451.
Compact Spare Tire Example
424

(B) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load
Limit:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(E) Tire Ination:The temporary use tire or
compact spare tire should be inated to 60 psi
(420 kPa). For more information on tire pressure
and ination seeInation - Tire Pressure on
page 431.
(F) Tire Size:A combination of letters and
numbers dene a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service description. The
letter T as the rst character in the tire size means
the tire is for temporary use only.(G) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication):Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a
typical passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P
as the rst character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards set
by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates
the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
425

Treadwear Indicators:Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of a
tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread remains.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 440.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards):A tire information system that
provides consumers with ratings for a tire’s
traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire. SeeUniform
Tire Quality Grading on page 444.
Vehicle Capacity Weight:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 349.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard:A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” underLoading
Your Vehicle on page 349.Run-Flat Tires (STS-V)
If your vehicle has run-at tires, there is no spare
tire and no tire changing equipment. Your
vehicle also has a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) which will alert you if there is a
loss of tire pressure in any of the tires. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 433.
{CAUTION:
When the low tire warning light is
displayed on the instrument panel cluster,
your vehicle’s handling capabilities will be
reduced during severe maneuvers. If you
drive too fast, you could lose control of
your vehicle. You or others could be
injured. Do not drive over 55 mph
(90 km/h) when the low tire warning light
is displayed. Drive cautiously and check
your tire pressures as soon as you can.
429

If a tire goes at, you will not need to stop on the
side of the road to change the tire. You can
just keep on driving. The vehicle’s run-at tires
can operate effectively with no air pressure for up
to 50 miles (80 km) at speeds up to 55 mph
(90 km/h). The shorter the distance you drive and
the slower the speed, the greater the chance
that the tire will not have to be replaced. When a
tire is lled with air, it provides a cushion
between the road and the wheel. Because you will
not have this cushion when driving on a deated
run-at tire, try to avoid potholes that could
damage your wheel and require replacement of it.
Some road hazards can damage a tire beyond
repair. This damage could occur even before you
have driven on the tire in a deated condition.
When a tire has been damaged, or if you have
driven any distance on a deated run-at tire, check
with an authorized run-at tire service center, as
soon as possible, to determine whether the tire can
be repaired or should be replaced. To maintain your
vehicle’s run-at feature, all replacement tires must
be self-supporting tires. To locate the nearest GM
or authorized run-at servicing facility, call
Roadside Service. SeeRoadside Service on
page 531for details.
{CAUTION:
Run-at tires are constructed differently
than other tires and could explode during
improper service. You or others could be
injured or killed if you attempt to repair,
replace, dismount, or mount a run-at tire.
Let only an authorized run-at service
center repair, replace, dismount, and
mount run-at tires.
The valve stems on your vehicle’s run-at tires
have sensors that are part of the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). These sensors contain
batteries which are designed to last for 10 years
under normal driving conditions. See your GM
dealer, if the TPMS sensors or a wheel ever need
replacement.
Notice:Using liquid sealants can damage the
tire valves and tire pressure monitor sensors in
your vehicle’s run-at tires. This damage would
not be covered by warranty. Do not use liquid
sealants in your vehicle’s run-at tires.
430

Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right. It is
not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazardsA Tire and Loading Information label is attached to
the vehicle’s center pillar, below the driver’s
door latch. This label lists your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and shows the correct ination
pressures for your tires when they are cold. The
recommended cold tire ination pressure,
shown on the label, is the minimum amount of air
pressure needed to support your vehicle’s
maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the tire and loading information label, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 349. How you load
your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort, never load your vehicle with more weight
than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Do not
forget to check the compact spare tire, if your
vehicle has one. The compact spare should be at
60 psi (420 kPa). For additional information
regarding the compact spare tire, seeCompact
Spare Tire on page 475.
431

How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are
properly inated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inated even when they
are underinated. Check the tire’s ination
pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage rmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire
ination pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information
label, no further adjustment is necessary. If the
ination pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Re-check the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
High-Speed Operation
{CAUTION:
Driving at high speeds, 100 mph
(160 km/h) or higher, puts an additional
strain on tires. Sustained high-speed
driving causes excessive heat build up
and can cause sudden tire failure. You
could have a crash and you or others
could be killed. Some high-speed rated
tires require ination pressure adjustment
for high speed operation. When speed
limits and road conditions are such that a
vehicle can be driven at high speeds,
make sure the tires are rated for high
speed operation, in excellent condition,
and set to the correct cold tire ination
pressure for the vehicle load.
432

If you will be driving at high speeds, speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h) or higher, where it is legal, set
the cold ination pressure to the maximum ination
pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or 38 psi
(265 kPa), whichever is lower. See the example
following. When you end this high-speed driving,
return the tires to the cold ination pressure shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label. See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 349.
Example:
You will nd the maximum load and ination
pressure molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small
letters, near the rim ange. It will read something
like this: Maximum load 690 kg (1521 lbs)
300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the ination
pressure for high-speed driving at
38 psi (265 kPa).Tire Pressure Monitor System
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS). This system uses radio and
sensor technology to check tire pressure levels.
Sensors are mounted onto each tire and
wheel assembly, except the compact spare tire
and wheel. The TPMS sensors monitor the
air pressure in your vehicle’s tires and transmits
the tire pressure readings to a receiver located in
the vehicle.
Using the Driver Information Center (DIC), tire
pressure levels may be viewed by the driver. For
additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Controls and
Displays on page 258andDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 264.
If a low tire pressure condition is detected, the
TPMS will display the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning message on the DIC display and, at
the same time, illuminate the low tire pressure
warning symbol, on the instrument panel cluster.
433

The tire pressure warning light may come on in
cool weather when the vehicle is rst started, and
then turn off as you start to drive. This could
be an early indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and need to be inated to the
proper pressure.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and inated to
the ination pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
ination pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire ination
pressure for those tires.)As an added safety
feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that
illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires
is signicantly
under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a signicantly
under-inated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-ination also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
434